By Peter Callas
The report found that women who give birth at 5-Star rated hospitals experience 62% fewer complications and women who undergo gynecologic surgery at 5-Star rated hospitals experience 52% fewer complications.
RWJ Hamilton’s efforts to provide high-quality maternity care were rewarded, as the hospital and its Ob/Gyn providers earned the hospital HealthGrades’ 2012 Maternity Care Excellence Award.
“This national recognition confirms RWJ Hamilton’s commitment to providing women of all ages with exceptional care,” said Skip Cimino, President & CEO at RWJ Hamilton. “It’s our team’s commitment to evolve our women’s health services across the lifespan that has enabled us to sustain our five-star rankings in maternity and GYN surgery for two years now.”
Among only 33 U.S. hospitals to achieve this designation, RWJ Hamilton is also the only Mercer County hospital to earn the award and achieve five-star ratings in maternity and gynecologic surgery. As a leader in women’s health, the RWJ OB/GYN Group has grown to become the largest practice of its kind in Greater Mercer County, providing women from adolescent to adulthood with high quality, personalized care.
“Women today have a wide array of options when it comes to reproductive health and choosing a health care provider who aligns with their personal preferences,” said Divya Cantor, MD, MBA and HealthGrades Senior Physician Consultant. “Women and mothers-to-be can optimize their chances for receiving the highest possible quality of care by researching and comparing the clinical outcomes of hospitals and doctors in their area.”
Key findings of the HealthGrades 2012 Obstetrics & Gynecology in American Hospitals report include:
- In the 19 states studied, 7% of women undergoing single live born deliveries experience an in-hospital complication.
- If all hospitals performed at the level of 5-Star rated hospitals in maternity care, 62% of these complications could have been potentially prevented.
- In the 19 states studied, 9.2% percent of women undergoing gynecologic surgery experienced an in-hospital complication. If all hospitals performed at the level of the best hospitals, 56% of these complications (37,711) could have been potentially prevented.
- While hysterectomies are the most common gynecologic procedure performed in hospitals, comprising 79% of all the inpatient gynecologic surgeries, the number has decreased substantially. Since 2002, the number has declined 31%.
